Gastroprotective Effect of Thymoquinone on Water Immersion Restraint Stress Induced Ulceration in Rats

To evaluated the role of thymoquinone (TQ) on stress induced ulceration progress in rats subjected to water immersion restraint as a stress (WRS) condition model. Wistar albino rats were divided into different groups; the animals were subjected to WRS. TQ (10 mg/kg) alone and TQ with ranitidine (20 mg/kg) were administered per orally as pre treatment for 7 days. On 8^th day the animals were sacrificed, gastric juice, pH, acid secretion, acid output, ulcer index and markers of oxidative stress and histopathology were determined. Volume of gastric juice, acid secretion was increased, while pH decreased in WRS animals. TQ pre-treated group showed reduction in the above parameters. The combination group showed more significant results than TQ and ranitidine alone on the above parameters. TQ decreased the ulcer index (UI), again combination group showed more significant decreased in UI. Oxidative stress markers were reduced and antioxidant enzymes were augmented. Gastric mucosa was protected as demonstrated by histological slides. The present study is one of its kinds to demonstrate anti ulcer effect of TQ against the water immersion restraint method of stress ulceration. Thus, TQ has the potential to be the promising drug for stress induced gastric ulcers.